First published in 1974, SSOTBME immediately established itself as a seminal text of the magical revival. A thinking person's guide to the unthinkable that ran to a second UK edition, a German edition, two Polish editions and a US edition. The book became an essential text for the Chaos Magic current, which it partly inspired. At the other end of the magical spectrum, it was a significant influence upon the later New Age movement through its clear exposition of the extent to which our world is shaped by our beliefs. Long since out of print, SSOTBME has now been brought right up to date and enlarged with additional commentary to over 150 pages by Ramsey Dukes. The difference, and the relationship, between science, art, religion and magic. The nature of magical theory - with examples from alchemy, astrology, ritual magic, Feng Shui, tarot reading and other systems of divination. A discussion of the role of sacrifice, of demons, of cyber-animism and initiation. A concise and comprehensive survey of every aspect of modern magic and its place in our world. It's a new, definitive magical grimoire for the 21st century.
SSOTBME was originally commissioned as an essay for a semi-academic collection of essays on comparative religion. That project never happened, but the material was expanded into a small book published by the author in 1974.
The book was an immediate success with a new wave of practicing magicians in the UK, including Pete Carroll, Ray Sherwin and other members of what was to become the Chaos Magic movement.
There's much food for thought here, whether you're just starting in on magic or consider yourself an old hand. If you've got friends,lovers, bosses, etc. wondering what all this weird stuff is about and you want to steer them towards an intelligent intro to magic - look no further than S.S.O.T.B.M.E..
Ramsey Dukes, patron saint of Chaos Magick, was incarnate around 1970 - occupying the body of a young Cambridge math scholar with a long standing interest in magic, alchemy, Aleister Crowley and the occult. He has written and published a number of books that drew attention to the work of Austin Spare and helped define late 20th century magick - notably "SSOTBME-An Essay on Magic" and "Thundersqueak", seminal texts of Chaos magick, and "Words Made Flesh", defining the information model of magical reality. In 1977 he performed the Abramelim operation, and he has since worked with a number of ritual groups including the OTO and IOT.
168 Pages
2001
Mouse That Spins, UK
$21.00
